Day/night match scheduled to begin at 14:15 local time (03:15 GMT)

Australia (probable) 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Brad Hodge, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Cameron White, 8 Brad Hogg, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Glenn McGrath.

Other options: SR Watson, MG Johnson

England (probable) 1 Mal Loye, 2 Ed Joyce, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Andrew Strauss, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Andrew Flintoff (capt), 7 Paul Nixon, 8 Jamie Dalrymple, 9 Sajid Mahmood, 10 Liam Plunkett, 11 Monty Panesar.

Other options: RS Bopara, SCJ Broad, CMW Read

See scorecard

ps. Fingers crossed for some World Cup planning with Watson replacing Hayden / White and Bopara, Broad and Read replacing Loye, Mahmood and Nixon....

I hope Watson does not play he is so arrogent and stuck up. He has a lot of talent but I think with the set up Australia has they need White to smash to ball at the end and Watson is not as good an opening batsman as Hayden.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

Watson surely needs to travel to the WI as backup... so in Australia's position I'd be inclined to play him in the finals. The only question I'd ask is whether I play him as opener (resting Hayden) or at 6 (resting White).

Dangerous leaving out Hayden in this first match - Australia will want to know just how far England confidence has risen, so a good start will be needed.

For England Mal Loye needs to bat 11 overs like the last time these to teams met, to justify a place on the plane to the World Cup.

These final have took on an importance, every fringe player is playing for a ticket on that plane - and a win in the finals would be a boost for England.

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Ern

Well Australia have been using this series to experiment for the world cup, they will probally keep experimenting throughout the finals. This competion means nothing to them. Since the ashes all Australia are thinking about is winning the world cup

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

Yes Ern, though at the moment, Bracken and Johnson will be lining up to bowl at Loye with that ball going across him. Loye has to ensure that he plays out these overs otherwise the questions will start getting louder.

For the aussies, once again it isn't going to happen, but I'd like to see Hilfenhaus again. He looked excellent at Hobart, but can he produce the same form away from his home ground and his supportive fans??

I'd be interested to see Bopara play again - he bowled bloody well against the Aussies in the last game, getting the key wicket of Hussey. Certainly accurate and I would be interested to see a gamble of one of the bowlers being dropped for Bopara. Can't see that happening though.

That's true Andy - but I think the penny had dropped with Loye to a large degree, he hung around for 11 overs but only score 29, and with joyce not being out, that gave England a good start, in fact the best for quite a while.

He must see off Bracken and Johnson - as an opener, that's his job.

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Ern

I quite agree Ern, but Loye has more ability than '29 runs'. We shouldn't be satisfied with 'a start' from him every innings. One time in 5 he needs to be following through and reaching 50. If he can do that, then he should secure the opening berth for a while. Unfortunately, so far he's answered a few questions, but raised a few more. I didn't expect him to show such a susceptibility outside off-stump to left armers, but I guess there are very few decent left arm quicks in the UK at the moment (Ryan Sidebottom being the best?) that maybe he'll sort this flaw out with a few more balls faced from Bracken and Johnson.

Well, England have done well. They have restricted Australia to 252. This is a real chance for England to win. England will have o bat well up front and will need 1 or 2 big partnerships early on.

The run chase is about to begin.

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434, world record for the shortest period. Whos choking now?

Looks like England have regained their old form. Typical England batting collapse. Strauss gone for 0. England are 15/3. And McGrath has not even bowled yet.

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434, world record for the shortest period. Whos choking now?